How to Remove Fireplace Doors

As a fireplace owner, you’re eventually going to have to remove your fireplace doors. It might be for maintenance, it might be for an upgrade, or maybe you prefer an open hearth. But whatever the reason, there’s no need to be intimidated. Removing fireplace doors is a simple process.

About Fireplace Doors

Although there are many different types of fireplaces on the market, there are only four main types of fireplace doors: a glass door, bifold doors without a frame, bifold doors with a frame, and masonry doors. Each one requires following slightly different steps. We’re going to cover how to remove them all here.

One note: you will be working with small screws and panes of glass. As you remove them, be sure to place both the screws and the removed doors in a safe place. Okay, let’s get started!

How to Remove a Glass Fireplace Door

Removing glass doors from a fireplace isn’t a difficult task, but it can be a delicate procedure. You are working with glass over stone, after all. Although the doors are connected at the top with clamps, they may fall off once the clamp is loosened, so be prepared.

All you’ll need for this job is a Phillips-head screwdriver and a pair of pliers.

1. Find the L-shaped brackets at the bottom of your fireplace.
2. Remove the screws from the bracket.
3. After removing the bracket, the door will be supported from above by an adjustable clamp held to the lintel with thumbscrews.
4. Loosen, but don’t completely remove, the thumbscrews with your pliers.
5. Once these screws are loose, hold the door tightly and remove the screws by hand.
6. Tilt the door slightly to remove it from the clamp.

How to Remove Prefab Bifold Fireplace Doors With No Frame

Before you can remove this type of fireplace door, you must first locate the spring bracket that seats the door pin. This is what keeps the door in place, and it can be found at either the top or the bottom of the frame. In some models, you may find two clips — one at the top and one at the bottom. You may need a screwdriver to compress the bracket.

Once you’ve found the bracket and have a screwdriver handy, follow these steps:

1. Fold the doors to their open position.
2. Starting with one door at a time, push up on the top spring bracket you located above. This reduces the pressure and allows you to remove the door’s pin from the bracket.
3. Lift the door until the bottom door pin can clear the hole it’s seated in.
4. Angle the bottom of the door toward the middle of the fireplace until you have enough clearance for the top door pin to be removed from the seating hole.
5. Remove the door.
6. Repeat with the steps for the other door.

How to Remove Prefab Bifold Fireplace Doors In a Frame

Removal of this type of fireplace door is very similar to what we’ve covered above with the added step of removing a frame, which is attached to the firebox with screws. You’ll need a screwdriver and possibly a drill to properly remove the doors.

1. You need to remove the doors before trying to remove the frame. Follow the directions above for removing bifold doors.
2. Locate the screws that connect the frame to the metal firebox.
3. Using your screwdriver or drill, remove the screws holding the frame.
4. Finish by removing the frame.

How to Remove Masonry Fireplace Doors

Masonry fireplace doors always come set in a frame. There are two different installation techniques for these doors, and removing them requires slightly different methods.

Version One

If the frame for your masonry doors is mounted with screws drilled right into the brickwork, then you’re going to need a socket wrench, a screwdriver, and possibly a drill with a socket adapter.

Once you have your tools, all you need to do is remove the screws from the fireplace. Work slowly and cautiously so you don’t damage the mounting holes. You can re-use these holes if you need to mount new doors.

Version Two

The other variety of masonry doors are installed with tension clips. These clips employ screws to provide the tension for keeping the doors in place. Fortunately, these are standard screws so you don’t need anything more than a screwdriver to remove them.

After unscrewing the pins, simply remove the doors.

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In Summary

Removing fireplace doors is one of those jobs that might seem complicated but is really quite simple. You won’t need many tools, and, in most cases, the job can be done in less than an hour.

If you have any questions about how to remove fireplace doors, please post in the comments. And if you found this article interesting, please share it on your social media channels.